Generator unit



W. F. CLARK. GENERATOR uN-l. APPLKCATION FILED APR. 2.4, |919.

1,375,365. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

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' WARREN CLARK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE STEAM-ELECTRIC p PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF

CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORI'DORATION OF OHIIO.

GENERATOR UN IT,

To all whom it may concern.'

y tive view showing the complete apparatus;

the hot-plate proper. This hot-plate 'com- State'iof Ohio,'have invented Be itlknown that LWARREN F. CQRK, a,

citizen. of the .United States, residing at` Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and a certain new andV useful Improvement in Generator Units, of which the following is a full,- clear, and exact. description.v The preserit'invention` relates to what may be termed a hot-plate device,'the purpose-of, theV device being to vprovide a hot-plate adapted lto-reeeive and support Amaterial which. is to be worked on and heated simultaneously, and furtherthe invention provides a lcoperating ldevice by which the material maybe held or clamped in position y.on the hot-plate.

. The invention further consists in details of construction as will appear more to advantage as the description proceeds.

Generally speaking the invention may be said to comprise the elements and the combi-` nation thereof set forth inthe accompanyincry claims.

c.leference shouldbeshad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifica-tion. in which Figure'l is a perspec- Fig. 2 is a top planview of the hot-plate and an assembled clamping device', Fig. '3 is` a transverse section through the hot-plate structurepmFig. 4 is ,a transverse section through a modified form ofthe hot-plate structure; Fig. 5 is an elevation with por-'- tions in section showing a part of said apparatusg F ig. 6 is a sectional elevation-of a portion of the clamping device; Fig. 7 is-a sectional'view showing a detail of construction; Fig. 8 is a botto-m plan View of tho plate portion ofthe clamping device.

Referring .to the drawings 1 designates prises a topA portion la with depending sides or skirts 1b. The .hot-plate is preferably made of sheet metal, which is advantageous not only from the view pointv of providing a structure of -less weight than where. the hot-plate is of cast metal, but also the use of sheet metal enables the structure to be fabriy cated ,with walls. which are much thinner than'wouldbe the case of a solid structure,

' which in turn enables the moreready transfer of heat to the top portion of the table at which portion the `heat is utilized.

`Within the skirt portions l? to which ref- Specfication df Letters Patent. Patinted Api'. 19, 192i.

1919. 'serial-No. 292,520.

erence has already been made thereis a member 2 which* conforms 1n generalout- -linewith the outline of the skirt portionsll".

This-member 2. has .depending flanged 2a which engage wlth the interior of the skirt .Y portions l?, preferably by welding. If it is desirable, and it usually is, a reinforcing bar, such as indicated at 3 may lextend in contact with the flanges 2a being secured thereto by welding or otherwise in order to provide a stronger structure. yThe bar 3 may be utilized to secure the edges of a cover 3a which'eover is'inade of asbestos or simij .lar material.

i At substantially thejcentral portion of the member-2 there is a substantially round opening with depending flanges 2b.

Coi operating with the ianges 2b and extending throughl the opening before mentioned, is a thimble 4:. is thimble has one end thereof closed, which closed end extends into contact with the portion` 1l of the hotplate. rlhe interior walls of the thimble are in part threaded in-order to engage with a threaded element through which steam may be sup.-

pli'ed to the space between the top la and the member .2. The thimble 4 is provided witha plurality of holes at 4a whichcommunicate with the space between the part l of the hotplate and the member 2, thereby permitting ready communication.

T he plate 2 is formed with a plurality of struck up portions 2. These portions are inthe form `of nipples which extend .toward the plate 1a and into contact withV the" same, land at the points'where the nipples are in contactwith the plate la, they are joined by means ofa spot weld.

The thimble l is also welded to the top l of the hot-plate aswell as being joined to the .flanges 2b 'by welding, sogthat as will be seen, the plate 1 being joined to the plate 2 ata plurality vof points, isefectively .prevented from'becoming warped due to the successively heating and cooling actions to which it may be subjected.

Another construction forv the hot plate is shown -in Fig. 4. There there are provided two members 6 and 7 which extend in substantially parallel relationshipl with each other, and conform` in outline with the flanges l of the hot `plate. These plates 6 and 7 are provided with depressed portions suoli as indicated-at 8 and at these depressed will be understood that these plates 6 and 7 j points.

will be joined to each otherv at numerous The plate thus lies in substantial contact with the .top 1a o f the top so aste thereof.

be in best position to communicate the heat 10 to the top portion of the hot plate.

Although not shown, it will be understoodthat a suitable inlet is provided to the spaceV be tween the plates 6 and 7 of the same form asthat shown` in Fig. 3 or an equivalent The hot plate 1 may through the thimble .4 be connected with any suitable sort of heat-l ingfluid and in the drawing I haveindr' f cated a steam generating unit which is genf l,erally designated at 10. .This heating unit has a, threaded pipe portion 11 which com` municates with the threads in the nipple 4. The typ'e of steam generator to which reference hasv been made is the same as that disclosed iff myv co-pending application Serial Number 292,519 filed April24, 1919. i Thehot plate which has thus been described when associated lwith a suitable heating' nuidsupplying device such as steam generator 10, -forms a hot plate whlch 1s adapted for very many purposes; in fact however the material worked upon isl required tobe kept in a heated condition dur.

ing the working period.

rlfhe temperature at which thel hot plate maintained may of course be varied in accordance with the temperature at which it is desired to maintain the hot plate.

The hot. plate construction is particularly adapted to forma part of the vulcanizing apparatus, wherein, patches, sections or other repair work is to be effected upon tires, tubes o r other rubber articles. j

Such a` usage as4 that-which has just been stated, requires the use of suitable clamping devices whereby the work may be clamped and held to the hot plate during the vulcanizing action.

The construction herein proposed provides` a plurality of adjustable clamping devices.

which are mounted adjacent to the hot plate and in a position forconvenient use.

The hotplate is provided with a pluralityv of extending ears 12. In these ears is mounted a longitudinally extending rod 13. Upon the ro'd there are mounted a plurality of `clamping devices all of which are similar so that a description oii one will suffice for all. .Upon the rod 13 there is mounted an arm generally 4designated at 15. This arm at its lower portion is provided with a part 16 which is adapted to slide upon the rod 13 so .that the bracket` may be positioned longitudinally with respect` to the hot plate 13. The arm 15 is curved and has a portion such tion Y T- e armv17'of the clamping `device is pro as indicated at 1'7 which is adapted to lie substantially parallel with respect to the hot plate when the clamp is in its fastened posivided withspaced parallel` portions sucn las indicated at 18 and adjacentits forward portion the clamp is provided -with a handle 19. Adjacent the handle 19 is a depending `hook 20,I this hok beingadapted to engage beneath the edge of the hotplate so as to hold the clamping device. in position when an farticle is being pressed beneath it. The Ahook 20 is provided with an extending flat por tion 20a. which maybe engaged by the hand 0f thefoperator to move the hook 20 either into engagement-or out of engagement with the hot plate, as maybedesired.

The portion 18 of the varm 17 receives a "block 21 which block is provided with grooved side walls as 1 indicated at 211,.

through which -grooved portion-s the sides forming the portions 17 ofthe clamping device eng-age',` s0 that the block 21v may be moved forwarder backward in the portion 18`in a direction transverse with respect to the hot. plate.

The vblock 21 has an interior opening which is threaded, and through thisv opening there extends a threaded stem 22. The stem at this upper end is provided with a handwheel 23 by which the stem may be manipulated to adjust its position in the block 21. The stem 22 is hollow and through it there extends a 4rod 24. This rod at its lower end is providedwith a presserplate 25 having a substantially centrally arranged raised portion'26. -The plate also has an opening 27 which is of sufficient size to per--v mit. thel head 24a to pass through it and there is a groove 28 which communicates with an opening 29 at the center of the raised portion 26.' The opening 29 is offsuflicient vsize to receive the rod 24 but does not permit the passage of the head 24a.

The construction described is for the purpose of assembling plate 25 which may be conveniently done by inserting the head 24a through the opening 27, moving the rod through the passageway 28 of the plate into Athe circular opening 29.

4the block 21 thereby tov exert pressure'up'on the hotplate when the plate 25 is in contact therewith, but this pressure' is a yielding pressure as the spring 30 is more or less compressed by this action. Therefore the pressure is exerted through vthe action of the spring 30. p

This is important particularly where the device is used for an operation involving vulcanizing, as it permits a pressure of a uniform amount to be maintained upon the article during vulcanization for as the rubberflows during the vulcanizing period, the.

spring maintains all the pressure.

From the foregoingy description it will be seen that each clamp may ybe moved vlongitudinally with respect to the hot plate,

-while block 21 of each clamp may be moved in a direction transverse with respect. to the hot plate, thus enabling the plate 25 to have substantially universal adjustability with respect to-the hot plate. l

-The clamp structure as a wholemay be moved .to a position which does not obstruct the top ofthe plate as shown in the shown at the right hand portion of Fig. 1.l

Vhere inner tubes orother lexible pieces of rubber material are being vulcanized vit is desirable to provide some means for -supporting the same above the hot p late mounted adjacent A.one side of the so that only these portions being treated are in contact with the hot plate. For this purpose a rack such as indicated at 35 may be provided, the side members of the rack or support extending through'suitable openings provided adjacent tlie ends of the rod 13at which position the rack may be 'secured.

It will be understood that where the device is used for vulcanizing, the portion of the rubber article being vulcanized will be positioned beneath the pressure plate 25 and held in contact with the hot plate during the vulcaniziiig operation and it will be readily seen that whether the work being performed is vulcanizing or not that the clamps are quickly adjusted to hold any article or piece of work into contact with the hot plate during the period it is being worked upon. l

I claim:

`1. In a device of the character described a combination with a plate member, a rod late member, of a clamping device comprising lan arm, one end of which is pivotally mounted upon such rod,lcapable of sliding along the rod and a movable presser meinber carried by the said arm and capable of moving .upon the arm and transversely with respect to the hot-plate. v

2. In a device of the lcharacter described the combination with a plate member, a rod mounted adjacentone side of the plate member, of a clamping device comprising an arm,` one .end of which is pivotally mounted upon such rod, ca able of sliding along the rod and a movab e presser inember carried by the said arm and capable of moving upon thearm and transversely with respect to the hot plate, a means for fastening the free end of the lever to the hot plate. 3. Ina the combination with the plate member of a. clampiii device comprising -an arm -which is pivotally mounted at one-enc? at one side of the plate member a block slidably mounted in said arm a threaded rota` table member mounted in such block and a .presser headassocia-ted with'the said rotatable member.

4; In a device of the character described the combination with a plate ymember of a clamping device comprising an arm which is pivotally mounted at one end, at one side of the plate member, a block vslidab'ly mount-ed in said arm, a threaded rotatable member mounted in such block andthe presserhead associated with the said rota- Xtable member, a hook member pivoted' adjacent an end of said arm and bearing to engage to meet 'a portion of the said plate.

5. ln a device of the character described the combination with a plate member of a device of the character described clamping device comprising a lever o'rieeiid i of the said lever being pivoted adjacent a side of the plate, such lever. having an extension be ondthe pivotal point thereof, which is ac apted to` engage a portion of the plate when the clamping device is moved in one direction about its pivot, a block member slidably mounted in the saidA ai'm, a rotatable member on said block, a presser head associated with -the said rotatable member and the hook threadably mounted adjacent an end of the arm and adapted to engage .with the portion of the said plate. 6. n a device of the character described the combination with a plate member a rod mounted adjacent one side of said plate member, of a clamping device comprising a lever, said lever at one end thereof being mounted upon the said rod, and slidable upon the rod, a blockslidably mounted upon said lever and a threaded rotatable member mounted in said block, a presser head associated with the said rotatable memclamping dev'ice comprising an arm pivoted at one end thereof adjacent a side of the plate, a block slidably mounted upon the said arm, a threaded rotatable member eX- tending through a threaded opening in the block, a presser head carried by said rotatable member, a Vspring coperating 'with the said rotatable member, -and'bearing upon lthe said presser head, ap1ate carried by the threaded rotatable member against which the opposite endofv the' sprlng engages,

i meansV for holding thefree endvof the' lever y with respect to the said plate.

8. In a device of the character described',

`the combination with a hot plate comprising an outer 'member which has a substanr ing provided with a plurality of struck up nipples, said nipples being -securedto the outer member and said inner member having a central opening, and. a thimble eX- tending. through the saidopening andengaging with the inner surface ofthe outer member, said .thimble being provided. with openings which communicate with'the spaces I between theisaid members. f

13. In a device ofthe character described -the combination'rwith a' hot plate comprising an outer member having a substantially fiat surfaceV with depending flanges at its surface, an inner member which is secured to the outer member `at the tlangesthe'reof,

. 't'ially 'fiat' surface and 'with depending4 flanges atits edges, the flanges ofsaid inner member l -ing within and in engagement with the anges on the outer member, there'` being a space between the inner and outer member to provide a chamber, an annular member eitending through the inner member and forming 'an opening to the space be-4 fore'mentioned.

9. In a device of the character described the combinationwith a hot plate comprisingan outer member, an inner member secured to lthe outer member and forming a spacespace between the said members saidinner member having struck' up portions whichv enga e with the inner surface of the outer mem er, thereby spacing them apart the inner member being provided with a4 fluid entrance opening.

11. iIn a devlce of the character described the combination with a hot plate comprising an outermember, an inner member'se cured 'to the outer member, said inner member being provided with struck up nipples means for spacing the said inner member with respect tothe outer member the inner'- member being "provided with 'a `iluidentrance opening.

14. 'In a device of thecharacter described' the combination with .a hot plate comprising an outer member .having a substantiallyflat surf ,ce with depending flanges, an

. inner member secured to the outer member at'the flangesl thereof, said inner member being provided with struck up nipple portions which nipple Vportions are secured to; the

outer member, the inner member being providedw-ith -an opening and a thixnble eX- tending through said opening said thimble member engaging with. the inner side of the outer member, and being provided with flanges of the plates.

which engage 'with the innersurface of the i outer member, said nipples being attached to the outer member, the inner member being provided with a luidentrance opening.l

12. In a device of the character described the combination with a hot plate comprising an outer member, an inner member secured to thelouter member, said inner member beopenings communicating with the spaces between the said members.

15.. In a device of the character describedl the combination with a hot plate comprising al pair of spaced late members which are secured "to each ot er at their edges, means for securing the said plate members with respect to feach other at various points throughout their extent and a cover having portions which coperate with the said 16. In? a device of the character described vthe combination with a hot plate comprising a pair of spaced plate members which are secured to each other' at their edges, each of disclosed epressed portions the said depressed portions ofthe plate engaging with each otherand bein other, a cover member aving'portions which secured 'with each.

'the saidpl tes being formed with oppositely coperate with thesaidl flanges of the plates. i

signature.

WARREN F. CLARK.

In rtestimony whereof, I hereunto ailix my 

